On-chip Smart Functions for Efficiency Enhancement of MMIC Power Amplifiers for W-CDMA Handset Applications

Abstract

New efficiency enhancement techniques have been devised and implemented to InGaP/GaAs HBT MMIC power amplifiers for W-CDMA mobile terminals applications. Two different types of bias current control circuits that select the efficient quiescent currents in accordance with the required output power levels are proposed for overall power efficiency improvement. A dual chain power amplifier with single matching network composed of two different parallel-connected power amplifier is also introduced. With these efficiency enhancement techniques, the implemented MMIC power amplifiers presents power added efficiency (PAE) more than 14.8 % and adjacent channel leakage ratio(ACLR) lower than -39 dBc at 20 dBm output power and PAE more than 39.4% and ACLR lower than -33 dBc at 28 dBm output power. The average power usage efficiency of the power amplifier is improved by a factor of more than 1.415 with the bias current control circuits and even up to a factor of 3 with the dual chain power amplifier.